If you visit the Maritime Gallery at Otago Museum in Dunedin take the time to find 8 ship models, a ship’s bell from the steamship Mararoa (1885) and a fragment of the decking from HMS Victory, (1759).

Model brigantine “Aborigine”. Image courtesy of Otago Museum

The models to look out for are the brigantine Aborigine (1866), the19th century passenger ship SS Arawa, the WWI British destroyer HMS Maori, the Royal Navy ‘Tribal’ class destroyer HMS Maori (1938), the torpedo boat HMS Sentinel, the SS Himatangi, the WWII minesweeper HMNZS Waiho, and the MV Johann van Oldenbarneveldt. Have fun!

The Southland Museum & Art Gallery has an exhibition about the Sub-Antarctic Islands titled Beyond the Roaring Forties. This exhibition is really fascinating and features relics of 19th century shipwreck survivors. Among them are 6 items from Te Papa’s collection.

“Anjou” spoon and spinning top .Te Papa

This spoon and spinning top were made by members of the crew of the French barque Anjou wrecked on Auckland Island in 1905 and stand testament to the ingenuity of the survivors.

“Dundonald” commemorative marker .Te Papa

A poignant item is the zinc sheet pricked with the names of victims and survivors of Dundonald wrecked on the Auckland Islands in 1907.

“General Grant” knife and sheath .Te Papa

A sheath knife, with steel blade and wooden handle, with accompanying seal skin sheath. The handle has “W.N. Scott, May 1866″ carved into it. Scott was a member of the crew of the sailing ship General Grant, wrecked on Auckland Island in May 1866. Scott survived the wreck, but died with three other “General Grant castaways in an attempt to sail to New Zealand in an open boat.

“General Grant” zinc playing cards .Te Papa

Five playing cards made from sheet zinc also by W.N. Scott. Scott also made the needle from bird-bone on display.

Next time I will tell you about of our paintings in places you would not necessarily expect to find them.

I have in my possession a small hand carved boat given to me by my late grandmother. Elizabeth Thompson. The boat is made of oak from a wrecked ship in the Southland area. Possibly the General Grant. I know this relic belonged to either my paternal grandfather Charles Herbert Thompson who was born and lived in Invercargill or his father Maurice Thompson MBE b19/4/1859 in Essex and lived in Invercargill d 21/3/1969 Auckland. Elizabeth gave me the boat when I was about 8-10 about 1974 and she told me about it at the time but I cannot remember much of what she told me.

I would like very much to find a little more about this wreck its history and whether I can verify it’s origins. I’m happy to supply photos of the boat and explain more about it if we can talk about it. I look forward to speaking with you about it.
Many thanks